Meat market read, Monday, June 29, 2026

Retail feature activity dropped 24,348 slots week-over-week, and that pullback lands squarely on ground beef patties, which topped the feature list at nearly 18,000 stores. When grocers ease off the feature page, the grind pull-through softens two weeks out, and 73CL fresh at 340¢/lb hasn't been moving anyway. Choice cutout gave back another $5.30/cwt at last close on thin beef loads, while pork flows came in heavy with a firming carcass. Inside skirt at 702¢/lb has burned through its seasonal work and history points another 37¢/lb lower from here over four weeks. Chuck flap at 1033¢/lb is the opposite problem: up 77¢/lb on the day and already running well past where seasonal history expects it. The July 4 window is close enough that Friday's feature activity print will tell you whether grocers are actually rebuilding grind promotion or just trimming ahead of the holiday.

meatread.com